‘50-50 chance’: Will Charlotte get a transit referendum in 2025?

CHARLOTTE — A top North Carolina Senate Republican and chair of the powerful transportation committee is “optimistic” Charlotte will be able to ask voters for permission to raise the sales tax by a cent in 2025.

Despite the optimism, state Sen. Vickie Sawyer of Mecklenburg and Iredell counties says she can’t guarantee anything.

“It really is 50-50,” Senator Sawyer said. “I just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Since 2020, Charlotte has hoped to raise the sales tax by a penny to fund road and transit expansion. Charlotte City Council needs the state’s permission for a referendum. Charlotte City Council met with Mecklenburg County’s state delegation Monday afternoon.

If approved by voters, the sales tax increase is projected to bring in billions of dollars over 30 years. The money will be evenly split amongst road and rail projects, with the remaining investment in bus service.

Sen. Sawyer praised Charlotte City Council’s approach. The city has worked with surrounding towns to craft a “regional transit plan.” All towns, except for Matthews, passed resolutions in favor of a sales tax increase.

“The folks who’ve been working in the business community and Mayor [Vi] Lyles and her city council have done the best job they possibly can getting this work,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer will be leading the effort in the Senate. Representatives Tricia Cotham and Becky Carney will be leading the charge in the North Carolina House.

There has been pushback against the transit plan from the town of Matthews, where leaders are upset that the town will not see light rail service. No state lawmakers publicly brought up this opposition.

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Councilperson Dimple Ajmera, the chair of the budget committee, says conversations are taking place behind the scenes and no future lines have been finalized. She is also optimistic about the plan’s future.

“I’m really excited and thrilled to finally see this as part of our state legislative agenda,” she said.

The city hopes voters will have a say in 2025. That’s an ambitious timeline, according to Sawyer. She says the NCGA moves at its own pace.

“I’m hearing from the city that they really need it fast,” she said. “But we are the North Carolina State Legislature. We do things very, very slow, so we’ll figure it out.”

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